**An Examination of the Ozlo Sleepbuds: Are They Worth the Investment?**
Who hasn’t utilized earbuds to eliminate distractions before sleep—be it a restless mind or a partner’s snoring? Personally, I find I use earbuds most frequently at night, often depending on my first-generation AirPods Pro for podcasts or video essays. On evenings when I aimed for greater mindfulness, I would choose Loop earplugs. Although I had heard of sleep earbuds, I never assumed they would be markedly different from my current setup—despite my AirPods frequently losing charge overnight and being uncomfortable for side sleeping.
Thus, when the chance presented itself to try the **Ozlo Sleepbuds**, I seized it.
### The Sleep Earbud Industry
If you’ve looked up “top sleep earbuds,” you’ve likely encountered a variety of options such as sleep headbands, Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds, Loop earplugs, and the Ozlo Sleepbuds.
The market for sleep earbuds isn’t overcrowded like the traditional earbud market. However, if you’re after an inexpensive choice, you might have to forgo certain features—as most affordable options typically don’t offer an eight-hour battery life.
This is where the **Bose Sleepbuds** previously excelled, providing passive noise cancellation and a comfortable fit. With Bose having discontinued that line, Ozlo has entered the scene, striving to enhance the design by incorporating streaming functionalities and sleep tracking.
As of this writing, the **Soundcore A20 earbuds** are the only other sleep earbuds boasting similar features, priced at around $150—$120 cheaper than Ozlo. Although I haven’t tested them yet, they could be a viable alternative.
### Comfort: An Essential Element
The **Ozlo Sleepbuds** are remarkably comfortable. Their wingtips ensure they remain securely in place without discomfort, allowing them to fit comfortably in the ear, making side sleeping a breeze.
With four different tip and wing sizes provided, I discovered a perfect fit that remained intact throughout the night—far exceeding my experience with AirPods.
### Crafted for Sleep
In addition to comfort, Ozlo has specifically designed the user experience for sleep. The **Ozlo app** features a variety of “Sleep Sounds” such as Fireglow, Misty Rain, and Into the Woods, which effectively mask disruptive noises. I particularly appreciated the default “Crimson Cloak” sound.
You have the option to stream your own audio and set a timer for when the sleep sound should take precedence—ranging from 15 minutes to two hours. A Beta function even senses when you’ve fallen asleep and automatically transitions to white noise.
One small drawback: Bluetooth streaming necessitates that your phone is within 10 feet of the smart case. However, this was never a problem for me.
### Silent Alarms
A notable feature is the **silent alarm**, which vibrates in your ears rather than emitting sound through a speaker. As someone on a West Coast schedule working with a team based on the East Coast, this feature enabled me to wake up without disturbing my partner. The snooze function also performed reliably.
### No Bluetooth Dependency
For those who prefer not to have their phone close while they sleep, the Ozlo Sleepbuds can operate without Bluetooth. Once established through the app, they can automatically play white noise when taken out of the case—functioning essentially as premium earplugs.
### Areas Needing Enhancement
#### No Sleep Tracking (Yet)
At present, the **Ozlo Sleepbuds** lack sleep tracking—a capability I would expect at their $279 price tag, especially considering the more affordable **Soundcore A20s** include it. However, the app does indicate that sleep data will be introduced in a forthcoming update.
#### Battery Performance
Though the earbuds themselves can last throughout the night, the charging case leaves room for improvement. After two nights, I needed to recharge the case to ensure the earbuds stayed functional. Keeping the case plugged in works as a temporary solution, but a longer-lasting battery would be preferable.
#### Occasional Connectivity Problems
On the whole, the earbuds connected smoothly. Nevertheless, I struggled to sync them with the app on two separate occasions. One night, I had to repeatedly open and close the case before they connected. On another night, I opted to go without them.
A recent firmware update has enhanced connection speeds, so it’s possible this issue will occur less frequently in the future.
### Cost Considerations
At **$279 from Ozlo** (or **$299 on Amazon**), these earbuds carry a hefty price tag. The original **Bose Sleepbuds** retailed at $250, which was met with criticism for lacking features—something Ozlo has addressed but not fully resolved.
Furthermore, Ozlo offers a **travel case separately for $30**, which feels like an unnecessary additional expense given the already substantial price.
That said,